Seaside

Elise Wehle

Don't Look Back

Highly tactile and dense with evocative imagery, Elise Wehle's varied works of art are bound by her commitment to her canvas and medium of choice—paper. By weaving sheets, cutting shapes, tearing leaves, and collaging fragments, she manipulates drawings, photos, and prints to create immersive, textural landscapes.

The artist takes an unconventional approach to traditional portraiture in this powerful and intricate piece. The original artwork was made from a photo transferred onto archival 90-pound watercolor paper. The image was then embroidered adding depth and leading the eye through the subtle shapes formed. Subject to individual interpretation and deep reflection, this work adds mystery and intrigue to or any space. Made in Provo, Utah.

As a child, Elise always wanted to be a zoologist, loved everything about animals, and spent most of her time drawing every animal she could imagine. Elise realized she wasn't drawing animals because she loved them, but she was drawing them because she loved to draw. After that epiphany, Elise decided to become an artist.
Elise's love for art led her to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Brigham Young University. She has been featured in various exhibitions across the country, receiving multiple awards and recognition for her work.
In a society that spends increasing amounts of time in front of glowing screens, Elise avoids this by using her hands to make art. Consequently, all of her work requires time-intensive, redundant movements that remind her that not everything is as instantaneous as a click of a mouse. By weaving together paper, cutting lines, and folding shapes, she manipulates drawings, photos, and prints to create new landscapes for her to explore.